Introduction to the Draft and Military Service

The United States has not conscripted or drafted anyone for over half a century. Since the last draft ended in 1973, the military system has evolved significantly. This article explores the hypothetical scenario of joining the Army National Guard and then getting drafted into the regular army during an existing National Guard contract, and clarifies why such an event is highly unlikely.

Historical Context

The U.S. has never drafted someone into the Regular Army. The concept of the Regular Army is inherently voluntary, meaning individuals sign up to serve based on their own choice. Historically, during the 1948-1973 draft period, conscripts were assigned to both the National Guard and the Reserve, but they did not become part of the Regular Army. Each scenario is analyzed to understand the intricacies of military service during draft periods.

Conscripts in the National Guard and Reserve

Conscripts during World War II were assigned to Regular National Guard and Organized Reserve divisions, but they were part of the Army of the United States (AUS) and not the Regular Army. Similarly, during the 1948-1973 draft period, conscripts were technically in the AUS, assigned to augment regular units, but were not considered Regular Army personnel.

Current Scenario Analysis

The current military system is completely different from the past. The National Guard and the regular army are now interconnected but separate entities. Individuals joining the National Guard have processed and are already registered with the larger military administration. The National Guard and the Regular Army now share a common funding source, and service records are recorded in a comprehensive database.

Real-World Scenario

Suppose an individual joins the Army National Guard and then, hypothetically, gets drafted into the regular army during their contract with the National Guard. The following steps outline the process one would follow to address this scenario:

Taking the draft notice to your National Guard company's First Sergeant. The First Sergeant would help start the process to resolve the issue. It's unusual, but let's explore the theoretical:

Validation of the Draft Notice: The First Sergeant would first verify if the individual is actually on active duty with the National Guard at the time of the draft notice. This would be a simple step to ensure the individual is not enrolled in the National Guard anymore.

Comprehensive Administrative Review: If the individual is still on active duty with the National Guard, the military officials would conduct a comprehensive administrative review. This would involve checking the individual's service record, contract, and any other relevant details.

Clarification and Resolution: After the review, the military would clarify the status of the individual and ensure they are not facing any issues due to overlapping service commitments.

Conclusion

While the scenario of joining the National Guard and then being drafted into the Regular Army is highly unlikely due to modern military systems and procedures, any documentation, contracts, and personal identification (such as social security numbers and ID cards) play crucial roles in confirming service records. The primary lesson here is the importance of maintaining accurate and up-to-date records to prevent any confusion or misunderstandings in the military.